23 countries have ended the 3rd edition of the Pan African Symposium on agriculture in Sierra Leone with a focus on strengthening agri-food supply food chains in Africa with the vision of creating a regional knowledge and partnership-based platform for youth involved in agriculture sovereignty as well as investments and connected supply chains in Africa.
The conference hosted by Craving 4 Development in collaboration with SL Accelerator started on the 5th of December, and ended on the 7th of December 2022 at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown.
Pan African symposium on agriculture aims to set in motion an initiative that allows practical knowledge sharing export readiness and exposure to systems, businesses, enablers and innovations in order to build robust frameworks and Agro-industrial companies with enhanced human capital interconnected networks of experts well-structured and accessible markets and opportunities for sustained collaborations.
Speaking with different vendors during the event Hannah Elizabeth Tarwallie founder of Coffee Couriers Sierra Leone stated that she started her coffee business in 2014.
Hannah disclosed that her product is for both local and international suppliers as they have vendors all-round.
Rachel Mariama Bangura founder of J’ S Gara and Fabric Collections said she started in 2017 because she found out that people were going into European style too much. She added that even though people are not interested in Gara collections but she ensured to give the best quality to Sierra Leone and the world.
J’ S Gara and Fabric Collections now caters for all kind of people both local and international.
Chairlady, Green Farmer, Kenemi District Fresh Garri, Famata Bah stated that she is proud to be an African woman who is interested in agriculture. She pointed out that all her life farming has been her work and she employed 42 women as a means of empowering them.
Famata Bah used the opportunity to appeal for sponsorship from the government and other partners to invest more in agriculture.
Junisa Kallon, a participant described the symposium sessions as very interesting and interactive. He said opportunities are limited in Sierra Leone to have young people together to learn about agriculture as a way of adding value to sustainable farming mechanisms.
He thanked the organizer for such an opportunity as he learnt a lot which he can replicate in his knowledge of farming.
The Pan African Agrifood Chain was founded by Mrs Aminata Kane Balde and co-founded by Tafadzwa Chiganga and Tolulope Aina.